A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a place in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-high monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to perform that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes acquire time and effort to get on this place in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of less than five hundred persons through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'd hope? Nobody else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, previous 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and tired with getting omitted Along with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida needs a Competition. Rather than one particular spot in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you probably will Believe I'm causeing this for being up. For those who have visited Washington County, you can understand - and know This can be the true story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some quite impressive possum politicians from the early '80s. Allow me to share some things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the developing from your monument alongside State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received America Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment as a result of delivering the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to carry its annual Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other factors, the Pageant appeals to A more info huge number of folks each year, and so they adore it.
Trip for a few educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will carry out?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unpleasant overall body only at night. That is why, when you are Within the correct invest Florida, you can hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be not tricky to entice (or shoot) a single.
An inscription in regards to the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in giving 'both fur and food' in the entire generations. It goes to say: 'Their existence right here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in usual moments and possesses been a vital support to human survival far more distress and critical will need.'
Laugh if you'd desire. The persons of Wausau will chuckle along - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.